The spokesperson of the United Nations. Margaret Harris told reporters in Geneva on Friday that 55 attacks on health care systems in Lebanon had been confirmed since September 17, 2024.
Of these, 102 died and over 83 were injured. “But, according to the (Lebanese) Ministry of Health, their number is much higher.”
Dr Harris said many health workers were off duty when they were injured in the attack.
The WHO warned that the escalation of violent conflict from 17 September 2024 was already under severe pressure on Lebanon’s health system. In the current situation, health workers are working under extreme pressure and are themselves being displaced. In this situation, health workers are losing their lives when they are most needed at this time.
Dr. Harris reiterated that targeting the health care system should be avoided, but he is concerned about these trends.
After the Gaza war broke out in October last year, Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes in response.
Israeli attacks have so far killed more than 2,800 people and injured 13,000, most of them after September 2024.
Displacement, deprivation
Civilians in southern and eastern Lebanon are suffering airstrikes, mass displacement and deprivation amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to one estimate, more than 50 thousand people have left the city of Baalbek and a large number are spending the night in their vehicles.
Jens Lark, spokesman for the United Nations humanitarian agency, said the number of people displaced by Israel’s continuous displacement orders and airstrikes exceeded 842,000.
At the same time, according to the UN Refugee Agency, 460,000 people entered Syria, of which 70 percent were Syrian citizens and the rest Lebanese or other nationalities. More than 25,000 Lebanese citizens have taken refuge in Iraq.
1.3 million people have been displaced since the war in the Gaza Strip began on October 7, 2023.
Given the huge humanitarian need, United Nations agencies, along with their partners, are providing food, clean water, medicine, bedding and other supplies to those in need.